CMakebased

CMakebased is a term used to describe software projects whose primary build configuration is written for the CMake build system. It is not a formal project name or standard, but a descriptor used in documentation and discussions to indicate that the project uses CMake to generate platform-specific build systems.

CMake is a cross-platform, open-source build system generator. It uses CMakeLists.txt files to describe targets, dependencies, and build options. From these files, CMake can produce native build systems such as Make, Ninja, Visual Studio, or Xcode projects, enabling out-of-source builds and multi-platform distribution.

Projects described as CMakebased typically organize their source with one CMakeLists.txt at the root, may include subdirectories via add_subdirectory, define targets with add_executable or add_library, and declare dependencies with find_package or FetchContent. They commonly support multi-language projects and configurable build options set through cache variables. The approach emphasizes a central, declarative description of how a project is built across platforms.

Benefits of the CMakebased approach include portability, a unified build configuration across operating systems, and easier dependency management. Challenges can include the need to learn CMake’s scripting language, potential complexity for large projects, and ongoing maintenance to keep scripts compatible with new CMake versions or compiler changes.

Adoption varies by ecosystem, but many open-source projects use CMake-based builds or adopt modern CMake practices to improve readability and modularity. When comparing to Makefile-based or Autotools-based workflows, CMakebased projects aim to provide a higher-level, cross-platform configuration layer while delegating to native builders for actual compilation.

Best practices for CMakebased projects include specifying a minimum required CMake version, preferring the modern CMake target-based approach, enabling out-of-source builds, using target properties for dependencies, and organizing configuration with add_subdirectory to maintain modularity.